SAN DIEGO, May 15, 2014 – Building
on its lineup of acclaimed compact cameras, Sony Electronics has
introduced a new addition to its popular Cyber-shot RX series – the
pocket-sized RX100 III camera.

Based on the same sleek, stylish design as the existing RX100 and
RX100 II models, the new RX100 III features a specially developed ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm1 F1.8-2.8
lens and adds a built-in OLED viewfinder with ZEISS T* coating. The
camera utilizes the same high-resolution 20.1 MP 1.0-type
back-illuminated CMOS image sensor as the existing RX100II model, and
adds the powerful BIONZ X processor featured in several high-end Sony
cameras including the full-frame α7, α7R and α7S models.

“Sony continues to push the modern limits of engineering and
innovation with our Cyber-shot RX family of products” said Patrick
Huang, director of the Cyber-shot business at Sony Electronics. “With
the new RX100 III model, we’ve added a brighter, wider aperture lens and
an impressive retractable OLED EVF, while also utilizing the latest
Sony imaging technologies to boost the camera’s processing speed and
efficiency. And we’ve done this without sacrificing any
of the true ‘pocketability’ of our RX100 line, creating an especially
unique compact camera unlike anything else in market today.”

New ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm1 F1.8-F2.8 Lens

The unique new ZEISS lens on the RX100 III camera covers the popular 24 -70mm1
focal length with a wide F1.8 – F2.8 aperture. This is particularly
noteworthy at the 70mm telephoto end of the lens, where the maximum F2.8
aperture allows it to gather about twice as much light as the RX100 and
RX100 II models (at 70mm), ensuring that portrait subjects can be
captured against beautiful background defocus. The wide aperture also
allows the lens to capture moving subjects clearly without any blur due
to camera and/or subject shake.

The versatile new lens is capable of capturing dramatic landscapes or
large group photos at the wide 24mm length while also boasting
impressive macro shooting capabilities throughout the focal range. For
example, it can still focus accurately as close as 30cm from the front
of the lens (working distance) when fully extended. There’s also a
built-in 3-stop (1/8) neutral density filter that adds to shooting
flexibility in a wide range of outdoor conditions.

The new ZEISS lens realizes outstanding corner-to-corner sharpness,
with nine total aspherical glass elements including two advanced
aspherical elements that have been cemented together – a world’s first
in lens manufaturing2. This results in an ultra-compact
physical footprint while maintaining a wide maximum angle of view.
Additionally, the 24-70mm lens1 features ZEISS T* coating
that minimizes flare and ghosting and a seven-blade circular aperture
that enhances ‘bokeh’ background defocus.

Clear, High-Precision Built-in EVF with ZEISS T* Coating

Largely based off of customer feedback on existing RX100 series
cameras (RX100 and RX100II), the new RX100 III adds a versatile,
high-quality OLED Tru-Finder™ electronic viewfinder. The EVF has an
impressive 1.4 million dot resolution, adding exceptional brightness and
clarity to the overall framing and viewing experience, and handily pops
in and out of the top of the camera body based on shooting
preferences. This allows the camera to operate in the traditional
‘rangefinder’ style without sacrificing any of its portability or
compactness.

The unique new EVF also features a specially-designed eyepiece lens
with ZEISS T* coating, dramatically reducing reflections that can
interfere with clear viewing. The viewfinder achieves exceptional
corner-to-corner clarity, and includes an eye sensor that automatically
switches between viewfinder and monitor display.

Exmor R CMOS Sensor and BIONZ X Processor

The powerful new RX100 III camera shares the same critically
acclaimed 1.0-type back-illuminated 20.1 MP Exmor R CMOS image sensor
featured in the RX100 II and RX10 cameras. With approximately four
times greater image capture area than the 1/2.3 type image sensors
commonly used in compact cameras, the sensor takes in significantly more
light, translating into brighter, clearer images and sharper Full HD
videos that capture all of the finer details of a scene.

The high-resolution sensor is paired with the evolved BIONZ X image
processor introduced in the α7, α7R models this past fall. Around three
times faster than the BIONZ processing engine in the RX100 and RX100 II
models, it employs detail reproduction, diffraction-reducing and
area-specific noise reduction technologies that allow the camera to
produce amazingly detailed images and Full HD videos in all types of
lighting conditions.

Pro-Quality Full HD Video Capture

The new RX100 III model is equipped with a host of HD video capabilities to satisfy the most demanding enthusiasts.

The new compact is the first Cyber-shot model to offer
high-resolution HD video recording in the XAVC S format, which allows
for full HD recording at a data rate of 50 mbps with lower compression
for improved video quality. Additionally, with the power of the BIONZ X
processor, the camera is able to read, process and output data from all
of the sensor’s pixels during video recording, ensuring that it
produces the highest quality video possible by eliminating aliasing,
moiré and false color artifacts.

Other video features include a ‘clear’ HDMI® output for
reviewing footage on an external monitor, 120 fps recording at 720p HD
resolution and zebra pattering on the LCD and built-in EVF. The camera
also has dual video recording capability (XAVC S / AVCHD files4
along with MP4 files), which allows users to shoot a high bit-rate
video for storage or editing purposes while also recording a lower bit
rate video that’s optimized for sharing via Wi-Fi®.

The camera also has Intelligent Active Mode – another first for
Cyber-shot RX series cameras – which utilizes Sony’s frame analysis
technology and 5-axis compensation to dramatically reduce the effects of
camera shake while shooting movies.

Camera Design, Customizability and Control

Despite its small “pocketable” size, the new RX100 III features many
opportunities to adjust common shooting settings, including a ‘Fn’ key,
customizable control ring and a “C” custom button with more than 40
assignable functions.

New to the RX series, the RX100 III model features an articulated LCD
that can tilt upward by about 180 degrees for self-portraits and all
the way downward to approximately 45 degrees for high-angle shots. The
camera also can output still images in 4K resolution6 with full wide-gamut TRILUMINOUS Color support when connected to compatible 4K televisions.

Wi-Fi® and PlayMemories™

The RX100 III camera has built-in Wi-Fi, giving consumers one-touch connection with Xperia® or NFC-compatible Android™ smartphones or tablets for instant image transfer and sharing2.
A single touch also activates Smart Remote Control, linking the camera
with a smartphone or tablet for a live image preview, to fire the
shutter from a distance and to review shots instantly.

For devices without NFC one-touch capabilities, users can wirelessly
transfer images and videos and activate Smart Remote Control through
Sony’s free PlayMemories Mobile™ application, available for the iOS and
Android platforms.

The camera is also the first Cyber-shot RX series model to feature
compatibility with Sony’s growing assortment of downloadable Sony
PlayMemories Camera Apps5, adding a range of exciting and creative capabilities. Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca .

Pricing and Availability

The Cyber-shot RX100 III compact camera will be available in June for
about $800. The camera and a range of compatible Cyber-shot
accessories will be sold at all Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

The camera will be showcased to the public for the first time this weekend at the PMA Big Photo Show (www.thebigphotoshow.com ) in Los Angeles at the LA Convention Center. Show hours are 10 AM – 6 PM on May 17th – 18th, Sony Booth #301.

For a full video preview of the new RX100 III camera, visit www.blog.sony.com, and please follow #SonyCamera on twitter for all the latest Sony Electronics camera news and updates.

Copyright @2003-2014 Cameratown.com. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form or medium without the
express written permission of Cameratown.com is prohibited.
Please email me with your suggestions or comments.